The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1887-10-19
NOT CON THE FENCE"

some OF the "kn0Wlng ones tnat
would be safe to assign the DEMocRA:
to the list of newspapers supporting
Gov. McEnery's claims to re-nomina
ton. In order to dispossess thei
minds of any doubt in the matter, w
plead guilty to the implied impeach
ment, and venture to predict that err
many moons have waned those SAME
"knowing ones" will find themselve'
aligned in the same column with us
| The DEMOCRAT is democratic pa
per of the "sway-back" type, ant
holds, in matters of party Leadership
and party nominations, to the ole
fashion principle Chew to the line lei
the chips fall where they may" We
have never scratched ticket put fortl
by democratic convention, nor bolt
ed from the party under any circum'
stances. This rule we consider true
orthordox democracy.
For reasons further considered we
desire to see the next State convention
renominate Samuel D. McEnery fol-
Governor, and the Legislature elect
James B. Eustis and B. T. Jonas to
the United States Senate. These
three positions involve a question OF
leadership for the party, as we'll as
other considerations, that commend the
gentlemen named to the cordial in
dorsemens of the party and the people
of Louisiana. While we supported
Gov. McEnery for nomination in 1884,
and since then have had no reason to
regret the choice made by that con-
vention, or the humble aid we may
have rendered in furtherance of his
nomination, We have no desire to criti-
else or question the many admirable
qualities of character and attributes of
personal worthiness that have won for
Gen. Nichols the universal esteem and
respect Of his fellow-citizens. Nor can
any citizen reviewing the public Ca
reer of Gen. Nichols, impeach his pu-
rity of intention and motive in any Of
his public acts.
That he is patriotic, brave, true, by
instinct, in his, love and devotion to
the people Of Louisiana and dear to
their hearts as one of her first citizens
no one will venture to deny. In ques-
tioning the policy and propriety of any
of his political acts as Governor and
citizen the plea hatman,tm cit errare
should extenuate what are considered
by thousands of democrats as his 20.
litical failures.
Gen. Nichols stands before the peo-
pie to-day as the chief and "head cen
tire" of a faction of the party, who de-
clare it their mission (ostensibly) to
convert the party to purer and better
principles Of Democracy and Demo
cratic methods; to purge and elimi-
nate from its organization every trace
of corruption, crookedness, combina-
tons of rings, etc., which, they allege,
have brought the State and the party
to the verge of ruin. In a word they
propose to reform US, and lead US into
Democratic pastures new, where all
that is virtuoas and good and beauti-
tiful land impersonaD in politics shall
make Democracy charming to the
senses, and spread prosperity, peace
and plenty like panorama before the
people.
These visions are captivating, in
deed, and do credit to the hearts, if
not the heads, of our reform friends.
The "woods are full" of Democrats,
however, who take no stock in this
sort of clap-trap.
Gen. Nichols desires to step up to
the Gubernatorial chair through bet
ter and higher pathway than former
ly led to it., He wants to take the
heights and plant an Excelsior" ban.
aer upon the battlements better than
the old tattered, battle-scarred Demo.
cratic banner that his opponents carry,
and which the party in Louisiana have
SO often led to victory. These chi.
merical dreams may beguile our re.
form friends into the belief that they
have struck f new chord, hitherto 81.
lent, in the Democratic heart, but they
are Utopian, impractical, and mis-.
leading subterfuge. The fact is, they
wont tho nlsnoo fron Coror, l.
to ward constable, and the proof that
they want ap establish RUG Of thei,
o'en las defiped by them in their char.
ges against the present administration
Is found In fhe Eart tlnt thn,, ,,re.o Il, .